IntMin Carmen Dan: We’ve offered full support so that verifications into August 10 events would take place as they should. I’m not nervous at all

Interior Minister Carmen Dan says she has offered all the necessary support so that the verifications into the events of August 10th would take place as they should, pointing out that she is not nervous at all.

Carmen Dan stated on Tuesday, for Antena3, that Bucharest Deputy Mayor Aurelian Badulescu has managed to stir interest in him being heard by prosecutors, and she encouraged anyone who goes before prosecutors to tell the truth.

“It’s difficult to comment on what Mr Badulescu is saying. As you yourself have agreed, he is yet to decide when he lied. It’s very bad that he lied. He has somehow managed to stir interest regarding his hearing yesterday. I repeat, it’s very bad that he didn’t tell the truth, I encourage anyone who goes before the Prosecutor’s Office to tell the truth and nothing but the truth,” the Interior Minister said.

She pointed out that the ministry has offered all the necessary support for the verifications to take place as they should.

“We have even offered absolutely all the support for these verifications to take place as they should, and with the seriousness required. Now, if the Prosecutor’s Office is very sluggish – you recall how people were summoned to file complaints on Saturdays and Sundays too, and after working hours too – it’s difficult to hold hearings. Lo and behold! So far there have been some convictions. But from among the protesters, not the gendarmes. I repeat, we have done everything possible so that this initiative of the prosecutor’s offices, no matter which ones, would be finalised. We have made available the requested documents, the human resources, I’m not nervous at all,” Carmen Dan explained.

She added that she did not see any French MEP criticising the French Interior Ministry for intervening against protesters.

“Regarding this very correct statement made by the Premier, which is not subjective and only expresses the reality, I believe it’s very good to make a comparison. I don’t believe we must accept being treated with double standards. Making a brief comparison with France, I didn’t see any French MEP blaming the Interior Ministry and Minister for reacting as they reacted in France,” the minister said.

SPP budget had to be effectively configured based on what it covers in line with legal competences. Iohannis always has combative attitude when it comes to certain budgets, not all

Interior Minister Carmen Dan claims that the budget of the Guard and Protection Service (SPP) had to be effectively configured based on what it covers in line with legal competences, pointing out that President Klaus Iohannis always has a “combative attitude” when it comes to certain budgets and that he is more preoccupied with the budget of an intelligence body than with the budget of the ministry.

Carmen Dan stated on Tuesday, for Antena3, that if she were to be asked, as a citizen, whether she wants a higher budget for an intelligence service or for a programme helping children or special needs persons, she would choose the latter.

“This discussion regarding the cutting of the intelligence services’ budgets is very present in the public space. I’ll speak as a person now, not as a minister. If I was asked, as a citizen, what I want more – a higher budget for an intelligence service or an aid and treatment programme for children or for special needs persons, I’m categorically telling you I would say I want that programme,” the minister said.

“Specialists in particular should take a careful look at this area and earmark just enough financial resources to cover the legal competences, so that we would not end up in situations that we know and have the duty to fix,” Carmen Dan added.

She pointed out that a discussion on the budgets took place within the Supreme Defence Council (CSAT) and that President Klaus Iohannis has a combative attitude in what concerns only certain budgets, not all.

“Now, in what concerns the budget, I believe those who really understand this are the most justified to do the talking, and the Finance Minister had a well-outlined position within the CSAT. There was also a need to take this step and obtain the CSAT’s endorsement; there wasn’t a battle within the CSAT, but obviously President Iohannis always has a combative attitude when it comes to certain budgets, not all. He’s more concerned with the budget of an intelligence body than with the budget of the ministry, at least that’s what I feel,” the minister said.

Carmen Dan pointed out that the draft budgets were discussed institutionally within the Government, the budgets of the intelligence services were not discussed.

“But, if you allow me, I could tell you again how I see this from the standpoint of a non-specialist. The SPP’s budget. The law very clearly says that this institution has competences in what concerns ensuring the security package for dignitaries, meaning Romanian dignitaries and foreign dignitaries when they visit Romania; they protect the Romanian President, the ex-Presidents, the Premier and the ex-Premiers for a period of time. In fact, de facto, the SPP protects and guards the President, his family, foreign dignitaries who visit Romania, the former Presidents and Premiers who still benefit from security measures and, more recently, for the duration of the presidency, the Romanian Premier,” Carmen Dan stated.

She added that the SPP’s budget must be configured based on what it covers in line with legal competences.

“So, this budget for the SPP had to be effectively configured based on what it covers in line with legal competences. For example, we can’t allocate to the SPP a budget that would cover ensuring this security package for all dignitaries, because, if we refer to dignitaries, any parliamentarian has the right to and can request protection from the SPP,” Carmen Dan explained.

PSD leader Liviu Dragnea stated on Sunday, after the party’s Executive Committee meeting, that the budgets of the intelligence services will be cut: “The money will go to Romania’s children.”

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